On the ninth day, we left Tokyo and headed to Osaka (大阪市) via the Shinkansen (新幹線) bullet train. We woke up at 4am in the morning to avoid the frantic Tokyo rush hour crowd at the train station as we were carrying a lot of luggage. For most part of the journey, we were only half-awake.
![Our Shinkansen tickets Our Shinkansen tickets](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3426904627_9a99e3a3db_o.jpg)
![Breakfast to eat in the train Breakfast to eat in the train](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3426902881_056f01844f_o.jpg)
![The bullet train which took us to Osaka The bullet train which took us to Osaka](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3426904515_3fbb59d210_o.jpg)
![Closer look at this engineering marvel Closer look at this engineering marvel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3427711914_ff81cb1587_o.jpg)
![Rachel is still half asleep Rachel is still half asleep](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/3427710710_18d3f0d4de_o.jpg)
![Pretty ticket inspector Pretty ticket inspector](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3427713064_830e4215b7_o.jpg)
![Floor map of the Shinkansen - there are smoking and non-smoking cabins Floor map of the Shinkansen - there are smoking and non-smoking cabins](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3426902089_9c595b4d48_o.jpg)
![Very sleepy Very sleepy](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3427712454_de51947d95_o.jpg)
Upon reaching Osaka, we checked into the local Super Hotel and then headed to the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (インスタントラーメン発明記念館). The museum is dedicated to instant noodles and cup noodles, and Taiwanese-Japanese inventor and businessman Momofuku Ando (安藤 百福) who created them via the Nissin brand. The museum is located in Ikeda in Osaka, and is located within walking distance of Ikeda Station on the Hankyu-Takarazuka Line. Admission is free.
Momofuku Ando is a very inspirational figure. A late bloomer, he invented instant noodles at 48 and cup noodles at the grand age of 61.
An interesting thing to take note when you visit the museum is the residential home standing just in front of it. The nameplates outside the house bores the same surname as Momofuku Ando. I won’t be surprise is that house belongs to him or his descendants.
![Fried chicken for breakfast, bought from the 24hrs Family Mart next to our hotel We had fried chicken for breakfast, bought from the 24hrs Family Mart next to our hotel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3427711534_04fe7a792f_o.jpg)
![Yummy! Mark bought this for supper every night thereafter Yummy! Mark bought this for supper every night thereafter](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3427710974_38c14d585d_o.jpg)
![Mark pretending to be the owner of a nice sportscar spotted near our hotel Mark pretending to be the owner of a nice sportscar spotted at the carpark beside our hotel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3426903151_ab1c82c005_o.jpg)
![Count the number of signboards pointing to the Hankyu line! Count the number of signboards pointing to the Hankyu line!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3427713866_ebed2ede86_o.jpg)
![At the Hankyu line railway station At the Hankyu line railway station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3426903373_2ca24783a4_o.jpg)
![There are Women Only cabins during rush hours There are Women Only cabins during rush hours](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3426902229_0d436ba07c_o.jpg)
![Our train is here Our train is here](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3427711942_79692eee47_o.jpg)
![Rachel likes the look of this train Rachel likes the look of this train](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3426902403_bbc888f6b0_o.jpg)
![On the Hankyu train On the Hankyu train](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3427712266_5f7744243e_o.jpg)
![Ikeda station Ikeda station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3426905493_1853545400_o.jpg)
![Chinese food stall spotted at Ikeda station Chinese food stall spotted at Ikeda station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3426905995_00bafb7636_o.jpg)
![Mochi stall at Ikeda station Mochi stall at Ikeda station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3426905737_452179410b_o.jpg)
![Sakura mochi Sakura mochi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3427713522_dd665d7e5e_o.jpg)
![A strawberry red bean mochi that Rachel bought A strawberry red bean mochi that Rachel bought](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3426902661_9ded4630d0_o.jpg)
![Wanted criminals in Japan - we saw this outside a police station Wanted criminals in Japan - we saw this outside a police station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3427713628_5d41a65d46_o.jpg)
![The area near the museum is peppered with nice large houses like this The area near the museum is peppered with nice large houses like this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3426903419_fdc641df7d_o.jpg)
![Large shrubs like this surrounded the perimeter of most of the houses Large shrubs like this surrounded the perimeter of most of the houses](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/3427712022_438869768c_o.jpg)
![Berries growing in someones garden Berries growing in someones garden](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3426903925_9075cf22bb_o.jpg)
![The museum from afar The museum from afar](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3426903455_de7f02a0ae_o.jpg)
![Outside the museum Outside the museum](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3427714434_c91f51659e_o.jpg)
![The house in front of the museum The house in front of the museum](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3426904911_4b9d9038ca_o.jpg)
![Wider view of the house Wider view of the house](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3427713354_bd9784a8df_o.jpg)
![With Andos statue With Andos statue](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3427715860_31beb60f38_o.jpg)
![A model of Andos house where he invented the first instant noodle A model of Andos house where he invented the first instant noodle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3427714736_ed8a1218a5_o.jpg)
![Rachel pretending to be Ando Rachel pretending to be Ando](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3427714548_f75b2ef7ba_o.jpg)
![The inventor, Momofuku Ando The inventor, Momofuku Ando](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3427714226_5c224ce25e_o.jpg)
![Some of Andos personal belongings Some of Andos personal belongings](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3427713796_37ae84f33c_o.jpg)
![Ando the academia Ando the academia](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3427710568_2880dcee46_o.jpg)
![All kinds of instant noodles and cup noodles All kinds of instant noodles and cup noodles](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3427713262_8794580e4b_o.jpg)
![Theres even noodles in the ceiling Theres even noodles in the ceiling](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3426903885_84d83101b7_o.jpg)
![Wide view of the instant noodles and cup noodles time line Wide view of the instant noodles and cup noodles time line](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3427711230_6b0b8ba375_o.jpg)
![My favourite instant noodle brand My favourite instant noodle brand](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3587/3427715274_bb05154519_o.jpg)
![Strange packaging Strange packaging](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3426902455_47997af6f6_o.jpg)
![I like the Nissin chick packaging I like the Nissin chick packaging](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3427710540_b5b9c6d2e1_o.jpg)
![Interactive game for kids Interactive game for kids](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3426904805_aae3821d40_o.jpg)
![Watch retro Nissin TVCs Watch retro Nissin TVCs](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/3427713308_458407b299_o.jpg)
![Ando got his inspiration for the cup noodle from this pack of macadamia nuts served to him in an airplane Ando got his inspiration for the cup noodle from this pack of nuts served to him in an airplane](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3426902121_6119e96aaf_o.jpg)
![Roving cup noodle van in olden days Japan Roving cup noodle van in olden days Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3426906653_47254262f1_o.jpg)
![Vintage instant noodles in early post-war Japan Vintage instant noodles in early post-war Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3426905523_d0ea5fe908_o.jpg)
![Retro cup noodle vending machine Retro cup noodle vending machine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3426906457_43878f676b_o.jpg)
![Retro machine used to seal the instant noodles Retro machine used to seal the instant noodles](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3426905453_9d79d5ef4a_o.jpg)
![Top ten greatest inventions in Japan - check out number 1 and 6 Top ten greatest inventions in Japan - check out number 1 and 4](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3426906409_8a0f54e4ff_o.jpg)
![Giant cup noodle model - the vacuum beneath the noodle allows water to flow in Giant cup noodle model - the vacuum beneath the noodle allows water to flow in](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3426906519_288a3a4530_o.jpg)
![Ahhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhh!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3426903641_8c10c40530_o.jpg)
![Instant noodles for spacemen Instant noodles for spacemen](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3427714970_f0afba6f33_o.jpg)
![The Nissin chick in an astronaut outfit The Nissin chick in an astronaut outfit](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3426904761_354e07d5f7_o.jpg)
![Nissin chick sitting in a model of the futuristic car seen in the hit manga, Akira Nissin chick sitting in a model of the futuristic car seen in the hit manga, Akira](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3427710838_bdc51c4f96_o.jpg)
At the museum, we got to make our own Nissin cup noodles! I created a Alvinology version while Mark and Meiyen created their own designs. Rachel did not want to make one as she is not a fan of instant noodles and cup noodles as she thinks they are unhealthy food.
![All ready to design our own cup noodles All ready to design our own cup noodles](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3427711976_50cbec896a_o.jpg)
![Mark checking his dictionary on the Japanese words to write on his cup noodle Mark checking his digital dictionary on what Japanese words to write on his cup noodle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3426904253_0733488bd2_o.jpg)
![Drawing my cup noodle Drawing my cup noodle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3427715776_c8f6d6e5f1_o.jpg)
![20 percent completed 20 percent completed](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/3427715402_fa82a56726_o.jpg)
![70 percent completed (just need to add in the ingredient and seal it up) 70 percent completed (just need to add in the ingredient and seal it up)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3426906239_918713d1b1_o.jpg)
![You get to choose the flavour and ingredient to put into your own cup noodle You get to choose the flavour and ingredient to put into your own cup noodle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3427714830_ed4c7acdc8_o.jpg)
![The noodles The noodles](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3427711312_8a1decd7e2_o.jpg)
![Choice of ingredient Choice of ingredient](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3427714290_0522951801_o.jpg)
![Looking through the ingredients Looking through the ingredients](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3427711704_69635461f1_o.jpg)
![Edible Nissin chicks Edible Nissin chicks](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3427712238_8652963840_o.jpg)
![Nissin staff putting in the ingredients for us Nissin staff putting in the ingredients for us](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3427711166_5f3c8e3549_o.jpg)
![The ingredient I chose The ingredient I chose](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3427713926_40f3c39fde_o.jpg)
![The ingredient Mark chose The ingredient Mark chose](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3427713906_db6a0e2afa_o.jpg)
![Turn the knob to seal the cup Turn the knob to seal the cup](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3427714258_50aaf6b992_o.jpg)
![My cup noodle being processed My cup noodle being processed](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3427715610_ee617c7e46_o.jpg)
![Sealing the cup Sealing the cup](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3426906793_00e366c2b9_o.jpg)
![Alvinology cup noode on its way out Alvinology cup noode on its way out](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3427710932_4e616e4e60_o.jpg)
![Sealed, ready for sale Sealed, ready for sale](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3427715898_aeaede75b7_o.jpg)
![Mark and I with our cup noodles Mark and I with our cup noodles](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3427713724_b25589428f_o.jpg)
![The staff at the cup noodle factory The staff at the cup noodle factory](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3426903761_d9be3f558b_o.jpg)
![Pumping the airbag Pumping the airbag](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3427715486_c1d96797ef_o.jpg)
![Mark pumping his own airbag Mark pumping his own airbag](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3426906383_bd6b6258de_o.jpg)
![Rachel with my completed Alvinology cup noodle Rachel with my completed Alvinology cup noodle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3426902919_0d96a48a00_o.jpg)
![Mark and Meiyen with their completed cup noodle designs Mark and Meiyen with their completed cup noodle designs](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3427710868_10bfbee25b_o.jpg)
We had instant noodles for lunch in the museum. We tried out the cheese flavoured Nissin cup noodles which were not available in Singapore. They tasted quite good, even to Rachel who usually don’t eat cup noodles.
![The flavours available The flavours available](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3427712936_13e42905f2_o.jpg)
![I chose this for lunch I chose this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3427714584_3f2f842ebd_o.jpg)
![Rachel chose the Cheese Curry flavour Rachel chose the Cheese Curry flavour](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3426901967_49af4def77_o.jpg)
![Cheese & Garlic flavour Cheese & Garlic flavour](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3426906147_45284d0f0f_o.jpg)
![I cooked my own lunch I cooked my own lunch](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3427715648_1e26b7b13a_o.jpg)
![Rachel with our lunch Rachel with our lunch](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3427713994_b59899554e_o.jpg)
![Bought these to bring home Bought these to bring home](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3427714202_a319d0b022_o.jpg)
![Valentines Day special souvenirs Valentines Day special souvenirs](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3427713038_d2931a6853_o.jpg)
![The English brochure says the sex of the Nissin chick is unknown... how come he has a girlfriend here though? The English brochure says the sex of the Nissin chick is unknown... how come he has a girlfriend here though?](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3426901929_1ae186d05b_o.jpg)
![I bought this I bought this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3427711582_f20bce38b2_o.jpg)
![Mark and Meiyen bought a pair of this Mark and Meiyen bought a pair of this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3427711428_b005a36729_o.jpg)
As we headed back to the train station, we passed by a western-style Japanese family restaurant. We decided to head in for more food as the instant noodles were not entirely filling. Rachel and I ordered a beef hamburger steak to share. Mark had a cheese-filled hamburger steak to himself and ordered some potato side dish for Meiyen.
![Nice milk shake from a 100 yen vending machine Nice milk shake from a 100 yen vending machine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3426905395_0a222eaffd_o.jpg)
![Kids on excursion Kids on excursion](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3426904141_c88c739354_o.jpg)
![Keeping in line Keeping in line](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3427712636_8e357321ef_o.jpg)
![The restaurant where we had our second lunch for the day Nissin cafe](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3427715798_22a78e34f0_o.jpg)
![Rachel and I shared this Rachel and I shared this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3426905177_72d40f1ff8_o.jpg)
![Mark ate this alone Mark ate this alone](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3426904487_8c7762fdac_o.jpg)
![A potato side dish that Meiyen ordered A potato side dish that Meiyen ordered](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3426901721_dc2a9f976f_o.jpg)
![Snacks I bought Snacks I bought](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3426904027_b42255aeea_o.jpg)
![Purple sweet potato chips - Rachel and I love this! Purple sweet potato chips - Rachel and I love this!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3427712730_bc240bfe8c_o.jpg)
![Cat grass Cat grass](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3427711022_49cbdace40_o.jpg)
![Cute-looking snack Cute-looking snack](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3426905821_23f488309f_o.jpg)
![Kids in uniform at the train station Kids in uniform at the train station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/3426905681_b23a13396d_o.jpg)
![Boy enjoying hot water from his thermal flask Boy enjoying hot water from his thermal flask](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3426903559_78aa495d56_o.jpg)
![Brad Pitt spotted Brad Pitt spotted](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3426903849_39ccd80b61_o.jpg)
![Japanese teens like their handphones very much - just like Singaporean teens Japanese teens](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3426903801_2a74475367_o.jpg)
Thereafter, we spent the rest of our day shopping. As we were busy shopping, I did not take much photos for the rest of the day. We had our dinner in a buffet restaurant that serves spaghetti and many different kinds of desert. The customers were mostly Japanese schoolgirls with high-pitch voices. I am not a fan of sweet food. Hence I did not enjoy the meal as much as the other three.
We headed back to our hotel rather early that night as we woke up too early in the morning and were fighting to stay awake throughout the day. That concluded our first day in Osaka.
![Large shopping mall Large shopping mall](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3426901759_ecd470e0f8_o.jpg)
![Election rallying Election rallying](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3427714060_0396e7b694_o.jpg)
![Comme Ça Du Mode store - I bought a vest from here Comme Ça Du Mode store - I bought a vest from here](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3427710668_9df0ed5403_o.jpg)
![Another shopping mall we went to which has a giant ferris wheel Another shopping mall we went to which has a giant ferris wheel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3427711838_c3a6e8879d_o.jpg)
![A repair stall - we hardly see this in Singapore anymore A repair stall - we hardly see this in Singapore anymore](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3427713486_c120743ac1_o.jpg)
![The Nissan Cube - the most popular car in Japan The Nissan Cube - the most popular car in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3427710506_561a997c7d_o.jpg)
![The restaurant here we had dinner The restaurant here we had dinner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3427711770_f3aafcf774_o.jpg)
![The buffet offering The buffet offering](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3427714522_727f913625_o.jpg)
![Different kinds of spaghetti Different kinds of spaghetti](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3426902749_e926fde158_o.jpg)
![Desert galore Desert galore](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3426902623_61d52de4e0_o.jpg)
![A sundae I made for myself A sundae I made for myself](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3426905649_e7e08e53c3_o.jpg)
![Animal-shaped chocolate Bear-shaped chocolate](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3427714390_5ffef15217_o.jpg)
![Small chocolate bears Small chocolate bears](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3426904945_ed032a322f_o.jpg)
![A Japanese brand called Love is... A Japanese brand called Love is...](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3427711280_a2561dba13_o.jpg)
![A fashion store that supports Barack Obama A fashion store that supports Barack Obama](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3426904599_687e030f9c_o.jpg)
![Hand-painted umbrellas Hand-painted umbrellas](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3426905017_93e7100504_o.jpg)
![A 300 yen shop - 3 coins in Japan is about S$5 A 300 yen shop - 3 coins in Japan is about S$5](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3427712794_77f17727d6_o.jpg)
![Meiyen unwrapping her 300 yen mystery bag Meiyen unwrapping her 300 yen mystery bag](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3426907011_e867c1485f_o.jpg)
![The stuff in the mystery bag - are they worth 300 yen (~S$5) The stuff in the mystery bag - are they worth 300 yen (~S$5)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/3427715030_6167ac154b_o.jpg)
![Rachel bought this pendant for 300 yen Rachel bought this pendant for 300 yen](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3426904343_f91d18af12_o.jpg)
![Colourful mochi snacks Colourful mochi snacks](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/3426902055_c4bddc9a0d_o.jpg)
![Musk melons Musk melons](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3426903597_3c19476473_o.jpg)
![Very expensive musk melon Musk melons](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3426905951_ef39ba396c_o.jpg)
Links to my previous blog entries on my Japan trip:
Day 1 – Kansai Airport, Hokkaido
Day 3 – Asahikawa, Asahiyama Zoo
Day 4 – Sledding, Shiroi Koibito, Crab Buffet
Day 5 – The 60th Sapporo Snow Festival
Day 6 – Staying with the Asai, Shōnan
Day 8 – Shibuya and Akihabara, Tokyo
Day 12 – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Dotonbori
Day 13 – Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and Mt. Rokko
Technorati Tags: alvinology goes to japan, japan travel, hua meiyen, mark tan, rachel chan, tokyo travel, shinkansen, 大阪市, 新幹線, osaka, osaka travel, super hotel osaka, momofuku ando instant ramen museum, インスタントラーメン発明記念館, momofuku ando, 安藤 百福, nissin cup noodle, nissin instant noodle, nissin, ikeda station, hankyu-takarazuka line, family mart fried chicken, hankyu railway station, hankyu train, women only cabins, sakura mochi, straweberry red bean mochi, momofuku ando’s house, top ten greatest inventions in japan, diy cup noodle, make your own cup noodle, cup noodle factory, nissin cup noodle factory, cheese & garlic cup noodle, cheese curry cup noodle, nissin chick, nissin mascot, japanese hamburger steak, brad pitt softbank ad, brad pitt in japan, Comme Ça Du Mode, comme ca du mode, nissan cube, space noodles, space instant noodles, musk melon, japanese musk melon, 3 coins, japan 3 coins store, japanese desert buffet
if i’m not wrong, japanese don’t send sms, they send emails around, as they have unlimited wifi, i think that’s for tokyo, otherwise it’s GPRS
Are the Cheese Curry noodle also available in SG? Where can I buy?